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The agent of Dinamo Zagreb playmaker Alen Halilovic says that his client will still complete his move to Barcelona despite doubts over the deal.

On Wednesday, Barcelona were handed a 14 month ban from signing or selling any players after being punished for signing under age foreign players, which could affect the proposed deal which would see Croatian wonderkid Halilovic complete a move to the Camp Nou this summer, where he would immediately join up with the Barcelona 'B' side.

The 17-year-old, nicknamed the 'Croatian Messi', has attracted interest from a number of clubs recently, including Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, but whilst those teams were left disappointed by the news that Halilovic would be joining Barcelona this summer, their interest could rekindle in light of the transfer ban imposed on the Catalan giants.

"I cannot foresee for one second that my client, Alen Halilovic, will not be able to play for Barça," he said. "This is an operation that has been completed prior to the sanction."

The sanctions handed to Barcelona are extremely severe, and Dupont, who has worked with some of the biggest clubs in the world during his career, believes that the punishment is too heavy.

"Fifa has done well to identify a problem, but I think they're trying to apply the wrong medicine," Dupont said. "When this Fifa ban doesn't allow for the future of a child and his family, then the regulation is mistaken. I have no doubts, that if Barça were to sign an 11-year-old, they would guarantee proper education and the correct social environment."

Olly Dawes

Olly is a Sports Management graduate and aspiring journalist, with most of his work surrounding football or NFL. He has formed two of his own sites, as well as contributing to a number of others before starting with Here Is The City.